Elizabeth Johnson is a Ghanaian –Nigerian avid reader and lover of the Creative Arts. She is also a writer and has worked with various online platforms as an editor and content creator. She also produces a literary radio show and has worked as a festival administrator. Her story was featured in the 2017 Independence anthology by Afridiaspora. Her play has been staged by African Theater Workshop and she is the 2018 winner of the Random Thoughts writing Prize.

The use of money as a way of trade for Africans is a concept that came with the colonizers who settled in Africa and imposed their ideologies and way of life on the people.

In the not so distant days of barter trading in Africa, goods were exchanged for goods between people, families and even kingdoms. Goods that were rare were of higher value than others and this included gold, salt and kola which gave kingdoms more wealth and power over trade.

The barter trading system seems to be making a come back in Africa and is reflecting first in the educational sector. Over the past few years, structures are being put in place to help more African children gain access to education allowing parents to trade goods or services instead of paying in cash.